Multiple article wrapper and method of forming same



July 2, 1968 MULTIPLE ARTICLE WRAPPER AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME l.. c. MURRAY ETAI. 3,390,764

Filed Oct. 2l, 1966 manuy Muah...

INVENTORS 0M-2L' c. Mae/@Ay 'JVA/v4. wary BY www@ M ATTORN E YS United States Patent O 3,390,764 MULTIPLE ARTICLE WRAPPER AND METHOD F FORMING SAME Lowell C. Murray and Ivan A. Welty, Fort Wayne, Ind.,

assignors to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 588,464 5 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) ABSTRACT 0F THE DESCLOSURE A multiple article wrapper, formed of a unitary blank of paperboard suitably cut and stored, and having irst, second, third and fourth panels hinged to one another by a transverse region of fold, each panel being adapted to carry an article therein, a pair of individual flaps hinged to the opposite side edges of each panel foldable over the article and securable relative to one another on the panel, the region of fold between the rst and second and between the third and fourth panels each being defined by a pair of fold lines having spaced apart central portions and having end portions converging toward the side edges of the blank to define a web panel the width of which generally corresponds to the combined thicknesses of the articles on the respective adjacent panels, the panels being foldable against one another to sandwich the articles therebetween and close the wrapper.

This invention relates to a paperboard wrapper suitable for holding individually a plurality of relatively thin articles, and further to the method of forming this wrapper.

Thin articles, such as the circular split ring elements used as seals on a piston of a reciprocating piston unit, commonly are quite fragile and require extra protection against breakage. Additionally, some articles come in sets where a plurality of articles of generally similar shape and `size are used simultaneously, again like a piston ring set is used to overhaul the piston unit.

This invention relates to a paperboard wrapper or pack suitable to hold individually a plurality of separate generally thin articles, and is part-icularly adaptable for holding articles of a set. More specifically, the paperboard wrapper has major panels, against which the individual articles are held, that are hinged together along generally transverse regions of fold so that the panels can be folded over and against rone another to sandwich the articles therebetween. The specific contour of the region of fold provides depth or thickness in the wrapper adjacent the article but further permits the separate panels to be folded relative to one another with the ease and accuracy of a single score.

The basic objects of this invention is to provide a paperboard wrapper suitable for holding securely and individually a plurality of separate generally thin articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paperboard wrapper that can be rapidly and accurately loaded, either manually or automatically and further to provide a method of forming such a Wrapper.

While other uses are possible, the invention is disclosed specifically as a piston ring pack.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the loaded piston ring pack disclosed herein;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged top plan View of a portion of FIG.

3,399,764 Patented July 2, 1968 2 showing the cooperation of the piston ring and the piston ring guide pin.

The subpect pack 10 includes an elongated blank 12 having a series of main panels 13, 15, 17 and 19 connected together along generally parallel transverse regions of fold 14, 16 and 18. Flaps 23, 25, 27 and 29 are hinged to the opposite side edges respectively, of the panels 13, 15, 17 and 19 and are adapted to be folded over the rings 33, 35, 37 and 39 and to be secured to the underlined main panel. Each ring is thus confined against the panel by the overlying side flaps. A circular weakened line 40 typically is formed across each flap to permit the easy ripping of the iiap for removing the ring. Similarly, each flap typically is triangular and has its free apex area 42 secured to the underlying main panel within the area of the ring.

One major feature of this invention is the provision of depth or thickness of the pack between the sepa-rate main panels to compensate for the thickness of the confined ring elements. To provide this thickness each region of fold 14 and 18, between the end panels and the intermediate panels, consists of a pair of continuous fold lines 44 and 45 that converge along sections 46 toward the side edges of the blank and extend along section 47 across the central portion of the blank. The lines 44 and 45 at the central portion 47 are spaced apart roughly the thickness of two of the thicker rings that might be confined against the adjacent major panels to provide a web or corner panel 4S having a comparable width to the combined thicknesses of the two confined ring elements. The converging sections 46 of the region of fold offers the ease and accuracy of folding the region panels on conventional equipment as a single score. Thus, the subject pack provides easy and accurate folding of the separate panels while still offering a ring thickness depth corner construction.

The region of fold 16 between the two intermediate panels 15 and 17 is 'formed by two sco-re lines 50 and 51 which extend generally parallel to one another in a direction normal to the elongated axis of the blank. The lines are set apart a distance corresponding generally to the maximum thickness of all rings that might 4be carried by the pack, as well as several thicknesses of the board used for the blank.

Another major feature of this invention is the means for forming the pack end and for locating the ring relative to each panel. Thus, an elongated opening 53 typically is formed in each major panel centrally of the panel in the transverse direction and extended in the longitudinal direction from adjacent the `free edge or the region of fold of the panel less than half way across the panel. By means of a pin 55 typically protruding through the opening from below the panel to above the panel, a piston ring can be placed on the panel over the pin and located by engagement with the pin centrally of the panel. The blank and the pins are moved together in a direction in line with the longitudinal axis of the blank, so that after the rings are properly located relative to the blank, the pins can be withdrawn and the flaps can be folded over by plows and glued against the underlying major panel.

The pack, when formed, consists of four connected major panels each having a ring secured thereagainst. The blank can be shifted on a right-angle transfer mechanism (not shown) so that the end panels 13 and 19 can be folded over onto the intermediate panels 15 and 17, which latter panels in turn are folded toward one another to sandwich therebetween the end panels 13 and 19. The pack can be held closed |by means of a tape strip (not shown) or the like extending across the back sides of the intermediate panels 15 and 17, or by means of adhesive spots 60 between the back sides of the end panels 13 and 19 at a location spaced from the fold region 16.

It will be -understood that the subject pack can be used E for rings having different diameters (ring 33 in FIG. 7) and thicknesses, so that the pack is very adaptable. Fur ther, if a complete ring set does not need four rings, one or more major panels can 4be eliminated as required.

What is claimed is:

l. A multiple article wrapper formed of a unitary blank of paperboard suitably cut and scored to comprise the combination of:

(a) first, second, third and fourth major panels hinged to one another by a generally transverse region of fold;

(b) each major panel being adapted to carry an article that is smaller in its outer dimension than the respective panel;

(c) a pair of individual flaps hinged to the opposite side edges of each major panel adapted to be folded over the article disposed thereon and be secured relative to one another on the panel so as to confine the individual article against the panel;

(d) the region of fold between the tirst and second and between the third and fourth major panels each being deiined by a pair of fold lines having central portions that are spaced apart across the intermediate area of the blank and having end portions that converge toward the side edges of the blank to dene therewithin a web panel having an intermediate width corresponding generally to the combined thicknesses of the articles on the respective adjacent panels;

(e) said major panels being folded against one another to sandwich the articles therebetween to close the wrapper;

(f) means for securing the major panels against one another.

2. A multiple article wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the converging fold lines meet at the edges of the blank so that the web panel -is pointed at the sides of the blank, and wherein the central fold lines are parallel to one another.

3. A multiple article Wrapper laccording to claim 1, wherein each major panel has a slot formed therein elongated from the transverse region of fold partially across the panel to provide that a locating pin can project through the slot to above the panel and within the article to locate the article on the panel during the formation of the wrapper.

4. A multiple article wrapper formed of a unitary blank of paperboard suitably cut and scored to comprise the combination of:

(a) rst, second, third and fourth major panels hinged fold;

(b) each major panel being adapted to carry an article that is smaller in its outer dimension than the respective panel;

(c) a pair of individual flaps hinged to the opposite side edges of each major panel adapted to be folded over the article disposed thereon and be secured relative to one another on the panel so as to conne the individual article against the panel;

(d) the regions of fold between the rst and second,

and between the third and fourth major panels each being defined by a pair of fold lines having end portions that converge in a direction toward the side edges of the blankand having central portions that are spaced apart across the intermediate area of the blank distances corresponding generally to the combined thicknesses of the respecti e adjacent rings operable to dene a web panel within the fold lines;

(e) the region of fold between the second and third major panels being deiined by a pair of fold lines that are spaced apart a distance corresponding generally to the combined thicknesses of the articles;

(f) said iirst and fourth major panels being folded onto the second and third major panels, and said second and third panels being in turn folded to sandwich the tirst and fourth major panels therebetween.

5. A multiple article wrapper formed of a unitary blank of paperboard suitably cut and scored to comprise the combination of:

(a) rst and second major panels hinged to one another by a generally transverse region of fold;

(b) each major panel being adapted to carry an article that is smaller in its outer dimension than the respective panel;

(c) flaps hinged to the side edges of each major panel adapted to be folded over the article disposed thereon and be secured relative to one another so as to confine the individual article against the panel;

(d) the region of fold being delined by a pair of fold lines having central portions that are spaced aparty across the intermediate area of the blank and having end portions that converge toward the side edges of the blank to deiine therewithin a web panel having an intermediate width corresponding generally to the combined thickness of the article on the adjacent first and second panels;

(e) said major panels being folded upwardly against one another to sandwich the articles therebetween to close the wrapper;

(f) means for securing the major panels against one another;

(g) each of said aps having a weakened line formed therein between the areas thereof secured relative to one another and hinged to the major panel suitable to tear the ap to permit the ready separation of the article from the wraper.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,061,906 5/1913 Forman 20G-45.11 2,151,486 3/1939 Ramel et al 229-875 2,280,442 4/1942 Muros 206-46 2,284,987 6/1942 Rame] et al 206--79 2,940,655 6/1960 Dunning 229-87 3,272,326 9/1966y Kutlow 206-62 WILLIAM T. DIXSON, IR., Primary Examiner. 

